Butterfly
Weezer feat. Allison Allport Lyrics


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Yesterday, I went outside
With my momma's mason jar
Caught a lovely butterfly
When I woke up today
Looked in on my fairy pet
She had withered all away
No more sighing in her breast
I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Every time I pin down what I think I want
It slips away, the ghost slips away

Smell you on my hand for days
I can't wash away your scent
If I'm a dog, then you're a bitch
I guess you're as real as me
Maybe I can live with that
Maybe I need fantasy
Life of chasing butterfly

I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Every time I pin down what I think I want
It slips away, the ghost slips away

I told you I would return
When the robin makes his nest
But I ain't never coming back





I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

Overall Meaning

The song "Butterfly" by Weezer feat. Allison Allport is a reflective piece that explores themes of regret, loss, and the fleeting nature of desire. The song begins with a light and whimsical description of catching a butterfly in a mason jar, the kind of childhood adventure that often holds a nostalgic and innocent charm. However, the tone quickly shifts as the singer wakes up the next day to find that the fairy pet he had been keeping had withered away. This serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of desire - no matter how much we may want something, it often slips away just as quickly as it comes.


The singer expresses remorse for his actions, admitting that he did what his body told him to do without thinking about the consequences. He recognizes that he didn't mean to harm anyone, but his actions still had a negative impact. The line "Every time I pin down what I think I want, it slips away, the ghost slips away" suggests that the singer is grappling with a deeper existential sense of longing and uncertainty, and that his desire for the butterfly and the fairy pet is emblematic of a larger pattern of wanting things he can't have.


The final lines of the song suggest that the singer realizes the futility of his chasing after these fleeting desires, and that he has no intention of returning to them. He apologizes repeatedly, perhaps indicating a sense of remorse that will stay with him for some time. Overall, "Butterfly" is a poignant and introspective song that delves into the complexities of desire and regret.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday, I went outside
I went out of my house the other day


With my momma's mason jar
I had a jar that belongs to my mother


Caught a lovely butterfly
I captured a beautiful butterfly


When I woke up today
I woke up in the morning


Looked in on my fairy pet
I checked on my imaginary creature


She had withered all away
It had disappeared or deteriorated


No more sighing in her breast
She was no longer experiencing sadness


I'm sorry for what I did
I apologize for my actions


I did what my body told me to
I followed my instincts


I didn't mean to do you harm
It was not my intention to hurt you


Every time I pin down what I think I want
Whenever I think I know what I want


It slips away, the ghost slips away
It disappears or becomes unattainable


Smell you on my hand for days
I can still smell you on my hand after many days


I can't wash away your scent
I can't remove the smell of you


If I'm a dog, then you're a bitch
If I am just an animal, then you must be too


I guess you're as real as me
I suppose you are just as real as I am


Maybe I can live with that
Perhaps I can accept that


Maybe I need fantasy
Perhaps I require imagination


Life of chasing butterfly
A life of pursuing unattainable things


I told you I would return
I promised I would come back


When the robin makes his nest
During a specific time in nature


But I ain't never coming back
But I am never going to return


I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
My apologies, repeated three times




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: RIVERS CUOMO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

QueerNightlight

Yesterday, I went outside
With my momma's mason jar
Caught a lovely butterfly
When I woke up today
Looked in on my fairy pet
She had withered all away
No more sighing in her breast

I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Every time I pin down what I think I want, it slips away
The ghost slips away

Smell you on my hand for days
I can't wash away your scent
If I'm a dog, then you're a bitch
I guess you're as real as me
Maybe I can live with that
Maybe I need fantasy
Life of chasing butterfly
I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Every time I pin down what I think I want, it slips away
The ghost slips away
I told you I would return
When the robin makes his nest
But I ain't never coming back
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry



All comments from YouTube:

Nick E.

Wish we could've gotten more of this type of music out of weezer

huntercrunch

This song almost brings me to tears every time. This is what is missing from modern music. Real emotion. It's so vulnerable and honest it can't help but be relateable, even when he is specific. That was what was so amazing about early Weezer. I'm one of their few fans that likes all of their stuff, but this is what will stand the test of time.

Damian Madrigal

borgus schmorgus oh boy I can't wait to tell him what happens

TheScrubSquad

huntercrunch listen to Andrew Jackson Jihad.

Ddynamite

huntercrunch i like all their stuff with the exception of feels like summer

Real Saetia Fan 28

If you like weezer for their emotion you should listen to Sorority noise, they're a modern band whose music is similiar to weezer's in some aspects and is probably more raw and emotional.

RhythmGrizz

Letter42 he's right tho

4 More Replies...

Greg Unchained

The lady playing the harp is my music teacher at CSUN.

Jorge Jimenez

whats her name dy think shes still there

1984 mustang v8

she is a lucky Pearson

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